Delta Air Lines and Korean Air have taken a noteworthy step in the global airline industry by jointly acquiring a 25% stake in Canadian carrier WestJet for $550 million. Each airline now holds a 12.5% stake in the Canadian company. This move marks a significant consolidation effort, enhancing Delta and Korean Air's strategic position in the North American market.
This acquisition is part of a broader strategy to strengthen their partnership, evident from their cooperation as founding members of the SkyTeam alliance. Historically, Delta and WestJet planned to form a joint venture back in 2017, aiming to amplify their trans-Pacific market collaboration, as reported by WestJet's media room. Moreover, WestJet is expanding its codeshare arrangement with Korean Air, introducing six new Asian destinations to facilitate increased connectivity between Canada and Asia, according to Simple Flying.
Through this strategic acquisition, Delta and Korean Air aim to enhance the customer experience by improving network connectivity and offering more travel choices. This development underscores a larger trend of consolidation within the airline industry, where major airlines collaborate to widen their global reach and strengthen alliances.